International News 13 August 2026
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Putin Warns of Retaliation if Europe Seizes Russian Ships
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a stern warning that Moscow will retaliate proportionately if European nations confiscate Russian commercial vessels. As reported by the state-owned news agency TASS on Wednesday, Putin's threat comes in response to the European Union's escalating crackdown on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet," a group of ships widely accused of being utilized to bypass international sanctions. The EU has recently broadened its sanctions to target hundreds of vessels, detaining several ships and their crews for thorough inspections. Furthermore, various European governments are reportedly contemplating stricter maritime enforcement measures against ships suspected of evading these penalties. Condemning these proposed actions, Putin was quoted by TASS as labeling them as acts of "piracy and banditry," firmly asserting that Russia would be forced to respond in kind if such measures are actually implemented.
https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/putin-murka-rusia-ancam-balas-jika-eropa-sita-kapal-dagang
Taiwan Condemns "Dangerous" China-Indonesia Naval Drills Off Its East Coast
The Taiwanese government has strongly condemned planned joint naval exercises between China and Indonesian warships in the waters east of Taiwan, labeling the operation as a "dangerous" maneuver that threatens to alter the regional status quo. Taipei warned that Beijing is deliberately trying to project an image of control over these eastern waters to the international community. China, which claims the democratically governed island as its own territory, has already escalated tensions by initiating coast guard patrols off Taiwan's eastern coast since June—a provocative move that has drawn intense anger from Taipei as well as mounting concerns from Washington and other Western nations. According to Reuters, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that the operations, framed as joint "navigation exercises" with an Indonesian naval vessel, are scheduled for mid-August in an undisclosed location east of Taiwan. This military collaboration is considered highly unusual, as Beijing rarely conducts joint drills with foreign armed forces in the immediate vicinity of the island. As of now, neither the Indonesian Navy nor the Indonesian Ministry of Defense has issued a statement or responded to requests for comment regarding their involvement in the planned exercises.
US Inflation Expected to See Moderate Gain as Fed Rate Hike Bets Cool
U.S. consumer inflation is projected to show only a moderate increase for July 2026, largely aided by declining gasoline prices. This subdued inflationary pressure is expected to further dampen market expectations for any interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve later this year. According to Reuters, the Labor Department's highly anticipated Consumer Price Index (CPI) report is set to be released on Wednesday, arriving closely on the heels of last week's unexpected decline in job creation. Economists suggest that America's status as a net oil exporter, coupled with reduced crude inventories, has effectively insulated the domestic economy from energy price shocks triggered by the ongoing Middle East conflict. Nevertheless, upward inflationary risks persist as long as the war involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran remains unresolved. Sung Won Sohn, an economics and finance professor at Loyola Marymount University, noted that he does not anticipate any major surprises in the upcoming CPI data. He emphasized that the Federal Reserve will likely maintain its current policy stance, avoiding both rate hikes and cuts unless there is a dramatic deterioration in the labor market and inflation dynamics.